NBA

Pelicans workout PGs Burke, Carter-Williams

WESTWEGO, La. (AP)

New Orleans got a closer look at two of the NBA draft's top
point guard prospects Friday.

The Pelicans, who have the sixth selection in the June 27 draft,
worked out Michigan's Trey Burke and Syracuse's Michael
Carter-Williams. Maryland center Alex Len, who is coming off
surgery last month for a stress fracture to his left ankle, was
also in town but did not work out.

Burke, the AP player of the year in 2013, averaged 18.5 points
and 6.7 assists per game in leading the Wolverines to the national
championship game, where they lost to Louisville.

''With the young team that the Pelicans have, I feel I can make
an impact right away and help this team win,'' said Burke, whose
size and style have drawn comparisons to another point guard
drafted by New Orleans, Chris Paul.

''I'm obviously not at (Paul's) level yet,'' Burke said.
''That's been a guy I've looked up to. I definitely think it's a
great comparison. I've got a lot of work to do to get to his
level.''

Pelicans head coach Monty Williams noticed some changes in Burke
since the April 8 title game.

''He's put on some muscle,'' Williams said. ''He looks a little
bit different than he did in the championship game.

''I've watched him on film. He's been able to be pretty
productive. He was the player of the year in college, so he's doing
something right.''

Carter-Williams, at 6-foot-6, stands six inches taller than
Burke. He averaged 11.8 points, 7.3 assists and 2.8 steals per game
last season for the Orange, whose season ended in the Final Four
with a loss to Burke's Michigan team.

''I think they've got a great young team,'' Carter-Williams said
of the Pelicans. ''They have three guards already here, but I can
come in and help them win and excel as a team.''

Both Burke and Carter-Williams have worked out for the Phoenix
Suns and Sacramento Kings, the teams who pick immediately before
and after New Orleans in the first round.

Williams knows that either guard will, at the outset of his
career, face a night-in, night-out challenge in the NBA's Western
Conference.

''When you're talking about Trey and Michael,'' Williams said,
''they're going to have to go against Russell (Westbrook), Chris
Paul, Deron Williams and Tony Parker. That's a lot. The learning
curve is steep, no matter who you are.''

Len, a 7-1 native of Ukraine, averaged 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds
and 2.1 blocked shots per game for Maryland. Despite having surgery
four weeks ago, he expects to be fully healthy for the start of
training camp in October.

He smiled at the thought of being teamed with 2012 No. 1 draft
pick Anthony Davis.

''It would be cool,'' Len said. ''Two big towers.''

Said Williams of Len, ''I like him. Anybody who's able to do
what he's done this far away from home says a lot about his
toughness and character. There's only so much you can do in an
interview. I like him on film, though.''

Pelicans general manager Dell Demps said the visit and interview
process has evolved in recent years.

''The guys are younger now,'' he said. ''They ask you a lot of
questions. It's refreshing.''

Demps said New Orleans is looking for the best fit at No. 6,
whether or not that choice would be a major contribution this
season.

''A lot of it depends on position, the dynamics of the team,''
Demps said. ''Specifically for us, we're looking for a guy who can
come in and contribute and help. That help may be this year, it may
be two years from now, could be three years from now. We're not
going to limit it to `we need help right now.'''

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